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USTR supports Yoo to lead WTO

The top trade negotiator for the United States is supporting the selection of Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee as the next World Trade Organization Director-General.   Robert Lighthizer says in a statement that Minister Yoo is a bona fide trade expert who has distinguished herself as a successful trade negotiator and trade policymaker, and she has the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the organization.

Lighthizer says it is a difficult time for the WTO and international trade, saying there have been no multilateral tariff negotiations in 25 years, the dispute settlement system has gotten out of control, and too few members fulfill basic transparency obligations.  The U.S. Trade Representative says the WTO is badly in need of major reform and must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field.

President Trump threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the WTO in September unless major reforms were made, and the naming of Minister Yoo as Director-General might be a step towards reforms that would keep the U.S. in the organization. 

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